claude-md-improver

Audit and prune CLAUDE.md files to stay under the 200-line limit.

1|Updated Jun 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/SevWren/Daily-Motivation-Brain-Helper --skill claude-md-improver-sevwren
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: claude-md-improver
Source: https://github.com/SevWren/Daily-Motivation-Brain-Helper/tree/main/CLAUDE/skills/misc/claude-md-improver
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/SevWren/Daily-Motivation-Brain-Helper --skill claude-md-improver-sevwren

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? CLAUDE.md files grow bloated over time, and once they exceed 200 lines Claude begins ignoring instructions buried in the noise. This Skill audits every line of your CLAUDE.md files, classifies content into keep/cut/move buckets, and produces a scored quality report before applying fixes. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Line-by-line classification: Applies the official test "would removing this cause Claude to make mistakes?" to every line, sorting content into Keep, Cut, Move-to-skill, or Move-to-rules buckets. - Scored quality report: Generates a 100-point rubric score covering size compliance, content discipline, accuracy, actionability, and correct use of alternatives, with hard caps for over-length files. - Off-loading guidance: Moves multi-step procedures into .claude/skills/ and path-specific instructions into .claude/rules/ so they stop consuming context in every session. - Use Case: Your project's CLAUDE.md has grown to 380 lines with directory trees, architecture overviews, and a 6-step release workflow. Run this Skill to get a cut list that brings it under 200 lines, extract the workflow into a skill, and convert file-type-specific rules into path-scoped rule files. ## Quick Start Audit the CLAUDE.md file in this repository and propose cuts to bring it under 200 lines.

Frequently Asked Questions about claude-md-improver

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I reduce the size of my CLAUDE.md file?▼

Run an audit that classifies every line by whether removing it would cause Claude to make a mistake. Cut anything Claude can derive from reading the code, move multi-step procedures into .claude/skills/, and move path-specific instructions into .claude/rules/ files.

What is the recommended length limit for CLAUDE.md files?▼

The official guidance targets under 200 lines per CLAUDE.md file. Longer files consume more context and reduce adherence, causing Claude to ignore instructions. Files over 200 lines are capped at 70/100 in this Skill's scoring rubric.

What content should stay in CLAUDE.md versus move to a skill or rule?▼

Keep only content Claude cannot derive from the code, such as non-obvious build commands, style rules differing from defaults, and environment quirks. Move multi-step workflows to .claude/skills/ and file-type-specific instructions to .claude/rules/ with paths frontmatter.

Does using @path imports reduce CLAUDE.md context size?▼

No. The @path import syntax loads the imported file into context at session start, exactly as if the content were inline. Importing a 300-line file from a 50-line CLAUDE.md still produces 350 lines of context.

Why is Claude ignoring instructions in my CLAUDE.md?▼

The most common cause is file length: once a CLAUDE.md grows past roughly 200 lines, important rules get lost in noise and adherence drops. Stale or contradictory statements also degrade compliance, so prune aggressively and fix inaccurate claims.